Police arrested Smith Thursday morning and charged him with murder after remains were found in Steele Creek.

Investigators began searching around midnight Thursday. The body was found around 4:30 a.m. in a wooded area on the 10400 block of Calico Crossing Lane near Lake Wylie, police said.

The body, which hasn’t been identified, was sent to the state medical examiner’s office.

At a press conference Thursday morning, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Rodney Monroe said a “cooperating witness” tipped them to the possible location of the body around midnight.

Police sources tell WBTV they decided to talk again with some of Smith’s friends who they suspected knew more about Bianca’s disappearance. Wednesday afternoon when investigators took Smith to jail after arresting him for contributing to the delinquency of a minor – Smith was wearing a T-shirt with a fraternity’s letters.

Sources tell WBTV that fraternity’s member, who is also Smith’s friend, eventually told the story of where Bianca Tanner’s body was.

“Let me be clear,” Monroe said, “At this point we only have remains.”

The medical examiner will have to make the identification, Monroe said. Until that happens, CMPD still lists Tanner as missing.

Smith was booked into the Mecklenburg County Jail for first degree murder at 1:11 p.m. on Thursday.

He was flanked by media as he left CMPD headquarters and only said “I’m sorry” when asked what he’d like to say to Tanner’s family.

About a month before the arrest, Bianca Tanner’s family canvassed Druid Hill Circle where the couple shared an apartment in Charlotte. Thursday neighbors said they have been praying for her to return and are glad Smith isn’t on the loose.

Tanner’s sister, Cerise Richardson had always held out hope.

“This is the longest we’ve ever been apart that we’re not talking so. It’s hard,” Richardson said Wednesday night.

Wednesday night family gathered with friends and people from the NC A&T community to pray for Bianca Tanner’s safe return. They didn’t want condolences, but condolences came pouring in through the Facebook page ‘Find Missing Bianca Tanner’ once police announced Thursday morning they found what they believed to be her remains.